SLEEPY HOLLOW – Soil sampling on properties near the Duracell battery manufacturing site in Sleepy Hollow will begin shortly to determine if and how far contamination traveled.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Gillette Company, which acquired Duracell, executed an order on consent with the DEC in December 2009 to conduct the remedial investigation both on-site and off-site.

Between 1988 and 1994, Duracell had completed several cleanup actions at the site, but in 2008, a soil sample turned up lead and mercury levels in several properties. As a result of that finding, the new testing will take place with the off-site properties evaluated first.

The sampling work should be completed by the end of the year on the property at the corner of Elm Street and Andrews Lane.